Unwinding device for filling furnishing mechanism



Oct. 7, 1969 R. a. SENN 3,470,922

UNWINDING DEVICE FOR FILLING FURNISHING MECHANISM Filed June 4, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RuooL PH 6- SELNN ATTORNEY United States Patent M US. Cl. 139-122 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A filling storage means for a weaving machine having a continuously rotatable wind-up cone with a castellated end member. The end member being movable axially between a retracted position within the cone and an extended position into the normal path of the drawn filling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for periodically unwinding lengths of filling for weaving machines of the type in which the filling is drawn from a stationary outside supply. A continuously rotating filling winding cone is arranged between the filling supply and a control mechanism for presenting the filling for insertion to the warp shed. Such devices are intended for preparing a length of filling prior to each pick by the inserting member so that insertion can be effected with as little tension as possible.

A known device for drawing off filling from a supply has fingers arranged on the periphery of a continuously driven disk, the fingers being located at a relatively large distance from a yarn guide eyelet which can be pivoted into and out of position centrally of the fingers. This causes excessive stress upon the filling at the moment it is taken over by the fingers which rotate at high peripheral speeds.

Another known device, such as that disclosed is Swiss Patent No. 429,618, has a continuously rotating filling yarn supply cone with tooth-shaped lobes arranged at the forward end and a filling guide pulley movable in synchronization with the filling inserting members toward and away from the forward end of the supply cone. The pulley is equipped with a thread guide eye which is movable into the supply cone as one of its positions and outwardly from the lobes in its other position. The advantage here lies in the fact that the windings are located on the portion of the cone having the larger diameter while the yarn is taken over by the smaller diameter so that the filling is subjected to only small stresses when taken over. The small cone angle of the winding body necessary for the purpose, however, involves a body of substantial length. This produces a grave disadvantage in that the path of the yarn, that is the path followed when not being wound on the cone, but coming directly from the supply bobbin, is very close to the tooth-shaped lobes. The filling may be accidentally caught by the lobes and cause filling breakage and loom stoppage. This is particularly so when used with coarse yarn which may be quite irregular and may tend to be laterally deflected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problems stated above by continuously rotating a frustoconical winding member on a fixed, substantially horizontal axis. The smaller plain end of the winding member is adapted to receive inwardly a crown-like or castellated portion for rotation therewith. The castellated portion is axially displaceable relative to the winding member between two extreme positions. In one position the castellated portion is retracted into the winding member so that the tooth-shaped lobes are fully 3,470,922 Patented Oct. '7, 1969 covered by the smaller plain end. The castellated portion in its second position is projected outwardly to place the lobes into the path Or range of the drawn filling.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a rotatable wind-up cone having a small-end pickup member which is projectible into the fixed path of the filling and retractible fully within the wind-up cone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be described by reference to specific embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a filling unwinding device with the castellated end in the projected position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view as seen in FIG. 1 with the end member in the retracted position; and

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the end member having a single tooth-shaped lobe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now referring to FIG. 1, which shows a longitudinal section of the filling unwinding device arranged in a substantially horizontal position and provided with a frustoconical winding portion 1 with a plain front end 2. The winding portion 1 rotates on antifriction bearings 3 on a hollow shaft 4 and is continuously driven by a belt 5 connected with a convenient rotating member (not shown). The hollow shaft 4 is held in a clamping collar 6 fixed to a stationary bracket 7 of the weaving machine. Arranged within the hollow shaft 4 are two guide bushings 8 in which a shaft 9 having an axis 36 is axially displaceable between two exereme positions. The shaft 9 has at one end a reduced diameter portion 10 about which two antifriction bearings 11 are supported for rotating a crown portion 12 which is axially fixed to the shaft 9. The crown portion 12 is provided with a keyway 13 into which a key 14 is fastened and which is also in operative association with a keyway 15 of the winding portion 1 so that the winding and crown portions will rotate together. The crown portion 12 has at its forward end at least one tooth-shaped lobe 30, each having a front edge 35 and recesses 29 therebetween.

The other end of shaft 9 has a squared end portion 16 through which a stud 17 extends. The ends of the stud 17 carry rotatable rollers 18 (only one shown) secured by any convenient means. The rollers 18 engage two slots 19 (one shown) in a lever 20 which swivels about a pivot point 21 supported by the bracket 7. Rotatably held between the forked end of the lever 20 by means of a bolt 23 is a socket member 22. Extending into the socket member 22 is a control bar 37 which can perform a movement in the directions of the arrow 24 under the influence of driving means (not shown) synchronized with the movements of the filling inserting members (not shown).

Attached by means of screws 26 to the bracket 7 is a guard plate 25 which is provided with a thread guide 27 aligned substantially with the center of the crown portion 12 which in FIG. 1 is in the winding position and there fore projected. The mouth or intake side 28 of the thread guide 27 is approximately at the level of the recesses 29 of the tooth-shaped lobes 30 of the crown portion 12.

In FIG. 3 a modification of the crown portion 12 shows a single tooth-shaped lobe 30 which would be sufficient, when used with the mechanism of FIG. I, to trap and wind the filling 34.

A cover plate 31 is attached to the bracket 7 by means of screws 32 and carries a thread guide 33 through which the filling 34 is introduced from an outside source of supply (not shown).

In FIG. 2 the device of this invention is shown in the thread drawing-off position which may be seen by the fact that the crown portion 12 is withdrawn into the winding portion 1 so that the plain front end 2 of the winding portion 1 permits the loops of filling 34 to be released with only slight tension.

It is seen that the thread 34 obtained from a supply bobbin (not shown) can never contact a tooth 30 of the crown portion 12 after the filling has been fully withdrawn from the winding portion 1 within its guided path from the thread eyelet 33 to the thread guide 27. The guided thread path between the eyelet 33 and the cooperating mouth 28 of the thread guide 27 is separated from the smooth front end 2 of the winding portion 1 but is closely adjacent thereto.

The sequence of winding the filling on and ofi? the winding portion 1 is such that displacement of the control bar 37 is from that position shown in FIG. 2 to that of FIG. 1. The crown portion 12 is thereby slipped out of the winding portion 1 by the shaft 9 with the stud 17 and rollers 18 so that any one of the tooth-shaped lobes 30 may engage the filling 34 and carry it along by the rotation of the winding portion 1 and crown portion 12. The filling will immediately tend to rise toward the larger diameter of the winding portion 1 and form in coils.

Opposite movement of the control rod 37 causes the crown portion 12 to be drawn into the winding portion 1 and engagement of the tooth-shaped lobe 30 with the filling is released. At the same time the yarn begins to be drawn in the direction of the guide eyelet 27 so that all of the coils are drawn off. As shown by experience there is the possibility that the last coil may be drawn toward the guide eyelet 27 as a whole. With the crown portion 12 withdrawn into the winding portion 1, there is no possibility that the last coil of filling will be caught by the tooth-shaped lobes 30 and broken.

As shown in FIG. 2, the danger of extreme yarn tension is eliminated when the full supply is drawn off and the yarn 34 passes directly from the eyelet 33 to the guide eyelet 27 because no contact with the withdrawn toothshaped lobes 30 is possible.

While two embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A device for unwinding lengths of filling yarn from a stationary outside supply for the filling control mechanism of a weaving machine, said device being arranged between the outside supply and the filling control mechanism and including (a) a continuously rotating frustoconical filling yarn winding portion,

(b) a crown portion continuously and coaxially rotatable with said winding portion,

(c) said crown portion being adapted for axial movement between a projected position and a retracted position relative to said winding portion,

(d) said crown portion having at least one filling engaging member rotatable therewith,

(e) a thread guide fixedly attached to the weaving machine to define a thread path for the filling yarn, and

(f) said filling engaging member being adapted to be moved by said crown portion into and out of said thread path.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said thread guide has an intake side for receiving the filling yarn, said intake side being substantially in alignment with the axis of rotation of said crown portion.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said winding portion includes a plain small end face for releasing the lengths of filling.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said crown portion is placed inwardly of said winding portion when moved to said retracted position.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said filling engaging member is fully within said small end face upon said crown portion being moved to said retracted position.

6. A device according to claim 3 which further includes a thread guide eyelet for cooperating with said thread guide in defining a guided thread path adjacent to and separated from said plain small end face.

7. A device according to claim 5 which further includes a thread guide eyelet for cooperating with said thread guide in defining a guided thread path adjacent to and separated from said plain small end face.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,393,709 7/1968 Rohr 139-l22 3,411,547 11/1968 Bucher l39l22 HENRY S. JAUDON, Primary Examiner 

